It Takes Ignorance Not to Understand That Soldiers Not Serving in Artsakh Will Serve in Much Worse Conditions in Armenia – Karen Hovhannisyan

Although there is no official statement regarding the cessation of soldiers deploying from Armenia to Artsakh, it is a fact that such a situation exists. Soldiers on leave have surprisingly not returned to Artsakh, despite having been prepared for such a return to their posts. Military expert Karen Hovhannisyan stated this in an interview with ArmDaily.am while addressing the information circulating on the internet about the halt of military service for Armenian soldiers in Artsakh.

“The soldiers who came on leave have been reassigned to military units in Armenia for further service. What this implies is hard to say. As we know, our territories that are now under Azerbaijani control mean that these soldiers cannot return because the areas they once controlled are no longer under the authority of the Armenian armed forces. However, I find this scenario unlikely and see it more as a consequence of the signing of that unfortunate document, and I suspect that this is about some new unexpected obligations for Armenia,” he emphasized.

In the interview, he stressed his belief that despite this situation, Artsakh is capable of protecting its territories, as General Vitaly Balasanyan announced that armed forces operating under the authority of Artsakh are being prepared to be established with high compensation. “I believe they will definitely succeed in this area, and why not, they will be able to ensure the number necessary for safeguarding Artsakh's security,” he noted.

Commenting on the excitement on social media about the idea that no soldiers will be sent from Armenia to serve in Artsakh, he pointed out that there is ignorance at play here. “People must be at least ignorant to not understand where the Azerbaijani border currently lies and must be outright foolish not to realize that the front lines have advanced several hundred kilometers to reach the Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor, and Syunik regions. Thus, those soldiers that will not serve in Artsakh will be deployed in Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor, and Syunik, and they will again confront the enemy under much worse conditions—unconstructed positions, unconstructed shelters, military units, and tent conditions. In other words, they will be serving under much worse circumstances, and evidently, in an area where the borders are still undefined. Therefore, I simply do not understand the excitement connected to this issue; it’s at least treachery, because to separate and speak of the homeland in parts regarding protection is at least treachery,” he concluded.